Knee problem leads Breschel to withdraw from Giro d’Italia

Team Saxo Tinkoff rider Matti Breschel has been forced to end his participation in the Giro d’Italia, with the Danish rider dropping out due to injury.

Breschel started suffering from knee pain two days ago. His team states that he has been receiving treatments for that, but the issue hasn’t abated.

The rider, the doctor and the directeur sportifs have reached the mutual decision that it would be best for him to stop the race and to undergo further examinations, thus determining the best course of action to solve the issue.

Breschel has said that previous problems in the same joint have prompted him to be extra cautious, and thus to withdraw from the event.

“This is of course a frustrating situation for me not to be able to continue in the race. But in the last couple of years, I have had some tough times with injuries in my right knee, and I really don't want to take any risks,” he said.

“It doesn't make sense to continue in the race, when I'm not on 100 percent of my capacity and run the risk of making things worse.”

The 2010 world championship silver medallist moved back to Team Saxo Tinkoff this year and has shown solid rather than spectacular form. His best results have been seventh on a stage of the Tour of Qatar, twelfth in the GP Nobili Rubinetterie, thirteenth in Gent-Wevelgem and fifteenth in Paris-Roubaix.

His sole high placing in the Giro d’Italia came on stage six when he was ninth into Margherita di Savoia.